Summer, Summer, Summertime...

The summers in San Francisco really do not feel summery to me. I'm used to the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer. Here, we are lucky if the temperature tops 65, and don't get me started on the fog!

Joel ran a race in Santa Cruz about a month ago, and this was the weather...


It can get a little depressing when you are hoping for some sunshine! Thankfully, we've had a few breaks from the fog. About a week after that race, we were in desperate need of some sun and took a last minute trip to San Diego...


That's more like it! I think it's funny how similar these beach scenes are scenery-wise, yet so different weather-wise.

We caught a Padres-Brewers game in San Diego. Unfortunately, the Brewers lost. Joel was more heartbroken than I was though...


In August we traveled to Madison, WI for a wedding. It was a beautiful, hot day, and we enjoyed some Mariachi music (the full band arrived shortly after this) and time with our friends. That was one whirlwind trip--way too short.


Fall is usually the warmest time of the year here, so I'm hoping we'll start seeing more sun soon. Cross you fingers!

In crafty news, I made this Buttercup bag a few months ago. I used to do a lot of sewing, but at some point knitting took over as my craft du jour. I'm really happy with how it turned out, but it is really small. A little too small. I'd love to make another one that's about 2-3x larger. It's on my to-do list!


I also just finished up this hat for my cousin's new baby.


It's the Pixie Hat from Knitting for Two by Erica Knight. (Just in case you are looking for this book, I think it may have been reprinted with a new title: Baby Boom.) This was super fun and easy to knit. I used Cascade 220 for the yarn.

My pompom technique definitely needs a little work. These are my first pompoms ever, and although it's hard to tell from the photo, they are a little skimpy. Does anyone know of a good pompom tutorial?

I'm thinking of adding another pompom to the top--what do you think? In my book, you really can't have too many pompoms, but maybe it's just me!

Hello, and Something to Show

Well, hello. It's been quite a while since I've posted here. I'm not sure where the time went, but I guess I just needed a break. I haven't meant to completely desert things here, so I'm going to try to get back in the habit.

The past few months have been very busy. I finished up my 15-month long mini-MBA program at work (now I just need that promotion!), cheered on my husband in one 5K and two 10K races, started running myself (and stuck to my other healthy resolutions, too), traveled to Yosemite, smashed the competition in Connect 4 (that would be Joel), and much, much more that I cannot remember right now.

I actually haven't been doing a ton of knitting--I've been feeling a little uninspired lately. I'm not sure what it is, but maybe I just need to get back into the swing of things. However, I do have one FO to show you...


It's the Reclamation Scarf from Stephanie Japel. Sadly, I seem to have lost the information on the yarn, but I will try to find it. I do know that it's 100% bamboo and was hand-dyed, somewhere local I believe. I bought it on our NorCal vacation last November. Here is a closer look at the color...


This pattern was very enjoyable and super easy to knit. It only took me a week, too, which was nice considering how large it turned out...


The pictures are from April--proof that I did have intentions of blogging! I have a slightly different haircut now, which I'll have to post a picture of.

I have lots more to say, but I need to save it for another post. I'll be back soon with more knitting and maybe even some pics from my new hobby... jewelry-making!

Still Around

Yikes... it has been almost two months since I last posted. Time goes by so quickly. It's a little scary sometimes.

All is well here. I decided after the New Year, that I was going to stop making excuses and start eating healthier and exercising... and I have been. I've always been a somewhat healthy eater, but I think I lost sight of what a normal portion size is, and we eat out a ton. So I've been cutting back on both and exercising a lot. It has really paid off, but it has been taking up a lot of time, especially during the week. So that is excuse #1 for not blogging!

I've also been in kind of a knitting funk. I'm not sure why but I just didn't have the urge to do any knitting for a while there. Lately, I've started a few new projects, and that's helped. Here's evidence that I've been doing a little knitting...


It's the Montego Bay Scarf from Interweave Knits. This is the perfect thing to knit while watching TV--not the most exciting pattern ever, but very easy to follow. I'm using the called for yarn, Handmaiden Sea Silk, which is amazing. So soft, light and silky.

I've been working on a few other things too, so hopefully I will something else to show you soon!


P.S. If anyone is interested, I highly recommend checking out SparkPeople. It's online tool for tracking your diet and exercise, plus much more. Both my husband and I use it, and it has been super helpful.

P.P.S. A couple people have emailed me knitting related questions. If you are reading this, I promise I will try to get back to you soon.

Playing Catch Up

I don't think I've ever blogged about my Tree Jacket, which was started it in October 2007. I didn't get very far before setting it aside to work on Forecast for NaNiSweMo (I haven't finished Forecast either, but that is another post!).

Don't ask me why I didn't just knit the Tree Jacket for that! I finally picked it up again a couple months ago, and have been working on it off and on since. My progress so far...


I still have a way to go on the body, but I'm getting there. I'm using Malabrigo and it's very soft. This is the first of several WIPs I hope to finish before moving on to bigger and better things (or just other sweaters). I truly admire knitters who can focus on one project. My own attention span is not that great--something I hope to improve upon this year!

I'm a little behind here, but I thought I'd share some pictures from our Thanksgiving road trip. The destination on our first day was Mt. Shasta--the town and the mountain. The only snow was on the peak, but it was very cold. I really regretted not putting on my winter coat before taking this picture!


Unfortunately, we couldn't go too far up, because the road was closed for winter. Mt. Shasta looms over the landscape for miles though, so I don't feel like we missed too much. The next shot was taken on our way down Mt. Shasta.


We saw a totem pole in Weed, a small town located near Mt. Shasta. It was located in a grocery store parking lot though, so I'm not sure how authentic it was!


The next day we got up early and headed toward Ashland, Oregon with some stops along the way. The weather was strangely foggy. It was a little eerie.

The weather cleared up as we headed into the mountains again, but there was a strange haze hanging over Ashland, as well. We checked out downtown Ashland, and then stopped at Morning Glory for breakfast. I am not a breakfast person at all, but this was one of the best meals of our trip and definitely one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten. So good that I even attempted to recreate a few recipes. If you are ever in Ashland, I would recommend stopping by.

Cheery decor at Morning Glory.

That day we also stopped at a couple wineries and then headed to Crescent City, California to spend the night. We made an error in judgement and ended up driving over a very twisty mountain road in the dark to get there. It was scary! Next time we'll be sure to plan that stretch of road for earlier in the day.

We eventually made it to our destination though: Curly Redwood Lodge. This place was very cool and retro. It was built from one curly redwood tree that produced 57,000 board feet of lumber.

Joel doing his best Don Draper pose.

As you can see, the decor has not been updated in some time--perhaps since it was built. But it was very clean, fun and cheap. Not to be missed, if you enjoy that kind of thing.


This is getting long, so I will do another post with photos from our next two days. One last highlight though: all the cool vintage signs along the way (most shot from the passenger side window!). Unfortunately, the mosaic maker clipped a lot of the photos. If you're interested, click the links below for the full photos.

1. Hi-Lo Motel Weed, 2. Townhouse Motel Weed, 3. Yreka Motel, 4. Rex Club Yreka, 5. Shamrock Dinners, 6. Motel Ashland, 7. Omar's Ashland, 8. Roy's Italian Dinners Eureka, 9. Bob's Fine Cars Eureka

I hope everyone's New Year is off to a great start!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe that another year has passed. It is amazing how fast time goes by the older you get! I thought I would do a little wrap-up of what I've been up to this year (knitting-wise)...

I think it was the year of the fingerless mitts for me. I really love those, and I think the pair on the top row may be my favorite project of the year. It's definitely the one I wear the most! Actually, I'm happy with everything, and it's nice to think back to when I was working on these projects.

It has been kind of a slow year for knitting. Looking at the above, I feel like something is missing. If I counted all my WIPs, I think I'd need double the space! I'm hoping next year will be a little more balanced (work-wise especially) and that I will have more time to knit. My main knitting goal is to finish the sweaters (especially the one for my husband, which he doesn't think I will ever finish!) and other projects that have been lingering too long.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. We froze in the Midwest--I'd show you pictures, but it was too cold to take any. It's now official: I can't take the cold and snow anymore. Hopefully, we will be able to spend next Christmas somewhere warm and sunny (which also leaves out San Francisco!). Happy New Year!

A Hat & Mittens to Keep Me Warm

I've been preparing for winter...


Hat: Feeling Frizzy from The Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits
Mittens: Knit Simple magazine Fall 2007
Yarn: GGH Soft Kid

This hat and mitten set has been finished since mid-November, but it's hard to get a good picture at this time of year with so little light.


Both patterns were very quick and easy. I absolutely loved the yarn, which was used tripled for the hat and doubled for the mittens. So soft!

I've had an overwhelming desire to knit lots of scarves, hats, and gloves/mittens lately. I'm not sure what it is, because I can't really remember wearing any hats last winter. It does get chilly in San Francisco, but not that chilly. Scarves... I definitely wear those, but how many do I really need. Mittens.... hmm, maybe fingerless mitts.

I'd originally planned to use this yarn for a short-sleeved wrap sweater. I've been thinking a lot about some of the projects I have yarn for though, and and whether or not I have any use for these things here. A lot of my yarn was bought when I was still living in Chicago, so I'm trying to rethink things a little. Anything sleeveless or short-sleeved and anything very heavy or wintry will probably not get worn--either too cold or too hot.

Maybe this hat and mitts will get worn on our Christmas trip to the Midwest. It's bound to be cold there!

A Single Sock

All I have to show for the last few weeks is a single sock...


I started this sock way back in June on a trip to Florida, and obviously, it has been slow going. There is something about this stitch pattern. It's not very stretchy, and it's a little boring to knit. I think the yarn looks OK in this pattern, although there is some pooling of colors. My favorite sections are the bottom of the foot and the toe.


I'm just not sure I want to invest them time knitting the second sock. I think I will let this sock sit before doing anything drastic though.

I've also been working on a hat and mittens, and a long forgotten sweater. I should have some pics of the hat and mitts soon--I have half a mitten to go.

The past few months have been busy. The last time we were in Sonoma wine tasting, we came across a fiber fest and some adorable Alpacas.


I have to say that they are very cute, but a little strange. Very skittish and they made some funny noises. Although if I was caged up with a bunch of ladies gawking at me, I'd probably be a little jumpy, too.

We had a too short visit from Joel's sister, and we attended a beautiful fall wedding.


I also got a major haircut--at least 5-6 inches.


I've wanted to cut it for quite a while now, but finally got the nerve, and I love it. It's been at least 5 years since I've had it this short, so it has taken me a while to get used to it. It's a lot more high maintenance than I remember short hair being. So much for retiring my blow dryer!

The next month and a half promises to be very busy. We are going on a northern California road trip over Thanksgiving--can't wait for that. Then my sister and her husband are visiting in early December. For Christmas we are heading home to the Midwest to spend time with family and friends. So much to look forward to!

Two New FOs: A Sweater and Some Mitts

Although I haven't blogged much lately, I have been knitting. In fact, I've been doing a lot of knitting, and I have two new FOs to show you!


Pattern: Mirabella Cardigan by Jennifer Tallapaneni (Interweave Knits Spring 2008)
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton

This cardi was something of an impulse knit, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. I started this sweater back in June and knit a little here and there. The knitting itself went very quickly and the pattern was very easy to understand. I even learned a few new techniques: double knitting and a little crochet. It was actually the crochet that held me back from finishing it sooner, but it was very easy in the end.

The pattern has lots of nice touches. I love the ribbing along the front edges and all the little buttons.


I love the hem--it adds a very neat finish. The darts are also a nice touch.


I do need to block it. It's not tight, but the buttons gape a bit around the bust, and I'm sure some blocking will fix that. I loved the cotton yarn, but I'm hoping this sweater does not grow to gargantuan proportions when wet. Cross your fingers!

My second FO is a pair of fingerless mitts...


Pattern: Welted Fingerless Gloves from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas
Yarn: Manos Silk Blend

I picked up this pattern and yarn while on a quick overnight trip to Seattle a couple weeks ago. Joel and I were planning to rent bikes and tour Bainbridge Island, but the weather didn't cooperate. Instead, we toured the town and came across Churchmouse Yarns & Teas. I swear that I wasn't planning to buy any yarn on this trip, but this was just the nicest store. Everyone there was so friendly--the man who rang me up actually invited me to "sit down and knit a few stitches". Beautiful yarn and helpful/nice staff--my idea of the perfect yarn store!

Anyway, the pattern was free with purchase of the yarn. The mitts were super fun to knit and super quick, too. I finished both in a couple nights. The yarn is a dream--I love a silk/wool blend and the color is gorgeous.

The shop model was adorned with three tiny shell buttons, and I think this is what drew me to the pattern in the first place. I searched my button box for a few options, but couldn't find quite what I was looking for.


I like these crystal buttons, but I think they are a little too big.


I actually love this big button--it has a slightly retro feel. Alas, I only have one of these buttons in my box though! So the search begins for the perfect buttons, but in the meantime I will wear them without.

What's next? I've been going through all my WIPs (specifically sweaters), and I'm a little alarmed at the rate at which they are piling up. So I'm hoping to finish a sweater or two or three before beginning any new ones. At least that is my goal for the rest of the year. I've decided accessories are OK, but no big projects. Wish me luck!

FO: Cabled MIni Jumper

Well, it's a miracle... I actually finished something!


Pattern: Cabled Mini Jumper from Knit.1 (fall 2007)
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease

I really enjoyed this pattern and it went quickly. I started this in the second week of August and knit on it fairly sporadically. It also sat for a week waiting for buttons, but in the end I decided that I liked it better without buttons.

The only other change I made was to cut four inches from the length. It's the perfect vest length now. I even used the called for yarn, which was OK. I can't say that I'll use it for every project, but it was cheap!


It really does seem to be a long time since I've finished anything substantial, although I have a few other things nearing completion. Hopefully, I can focus and finish some other projects before starting anything new.

Back to School Time

I've been out of school for more years than I care to admit, but I still seem to measure the days by semesters and school vacations. If only I still had that many days off... Anyway, I've always considered September 1 to be the start of fall, even if there are still have a few more weeks of summer to go.

I can't say that I'm sad summer is ending. Maybe if I lived in a sunnier locale, but I'm looking forward to the sun and warmer weather that I hope fall will bring here. Here in San Francisco, summer is a great time to get out of town--we live in the foggiest part of town. Who wouldn't want to exchange this...


for this?


Another way I've been trying to enjoy summer is by making lots of trips to the farmer's market. We have been living on sandwiches of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pesto and local bread this summer. I'm definitely not ready for that to end.

I've also been making lots of jam. It started out innocently enough with a batch of freezer jam made with strawberries fresh from the farmer's market. Soon however, I'd made way more jam than two people can reasonably eat.

White Peach, Raspberry-Peach, Strawberry-Blackbery, and Strawberry
(Just a sampling, the rest is in the freezer.)

If you haven't made it before, freezer jam is so easy and so delicious. I used the recipe that came with the box of pectin. You need to use a scary amount of sugar though--just a warning.

I've also been knitting, believe it or not. Not wanting to finish any projects anytime soon (ha!), I cast on for yet another sweater. I just couldn't help myself. This one is moving fast though, and I'm already done with the front.


I'm in love with cables right now.


It's the Cabled Mini Jumper from Knit.1 (Fall 2007). I've had my eye on this pattern for a while now, and just couldn't resist anymore. Wish me luck in finishing this before something else catches my eye!